Gen Z is over dating apps. This 403% surge reveals what they’re doing instead

The useful part

In 50 years or so, quite a few Gen Zers are going to be telling their grandkids that they met while birdwatching. The platform's research found that Gen Zers are increasingly looking to find love IRL, and they're doing it at the kinds of hobby-based events that might've once been the purview of older generations. "For a long time, people kept dating in one box and hobbies in another," Andrea Parodi, Eventbrite's general manager, said in a press release.

How it works

• Events were only included if they signaled specific meeting intent, meaning the title or description included language like "meet new people," "singles," or "mixer," and the results were striking.
• Mahjong gatherings have spiked by 235%, plant swaps and terrarium workshops are up 117%, and pilates socials are up 84%.
• Birdwatching meetups are also a hot-ticket item, with events up 131% and attendance up 82%.
• Per the analysis, trivia night events are up 403% year-over-year, with hot spots in Chicago, Boston, and Raleigh.

Details worth keeping

"What we're seeing is that line starting to dissolve. People are starting with what they already love, or exploring a totally new pastime, and staying open to whatever it turns into." For Gen Z, that means even the most niche of crafty gatherings are turning into a place to potentially find love.